Kelly was born in Blanco, and graduated from Pittsburg High School. After graduation, he spent a year with the Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) counting wildlife in Colorado. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1940, and served as an aircraft mechanic during World War II. He was stationed in Northern Africa, Italy, Sicily and Corsica. After returning from the war, he married and moved to Glendale, Calif., where he received his A&E certification from the Cal-Aero Institute. In 1947, he began a 40 year career at American Airlines as a flight engineer. He passed away at his residence in McAlester at the age of 88. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Jeanne, of the home; sons, John Nelson and wife, Jodie, of Marshall, N.C., Joe Nelson and wife, Jan, of Southlake, Texas; son-in-law, Thomas Shuler, of Atlanta, Ga.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John F. Nelson and Lula Shipley Nelson; brothers, Joe Nelson and Merl Nelson; sisters, Fairel Clark and Ruby Hatridge, and daughter, Sandra Shuler. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the family home.
Kelly was born in Blanco, and graduated from Pittsburg High School. After graduation, he spent a year with the Civil Conservation Corp (CCC) counting wildlife in Colorado. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1940, and served as an aircraft mechanic during World War II. He was stationed in Northern Africa, Italy, Sicily and Corsica. After returning from the war, he married and moved to Glendale, Calif., where he received his A&E certification from the Cal-Aero Institute. In 1947, he began a 40 year career at American Airlines as a flight engineer. He passed away at his residence in McAlester at the age of 88. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Jeanne, of the home; sons, John Nelson and wife, Jodie, of Marshall, N.C., Joe Nelson and wife, Jan, of Southlake, Texas; son-in-law, Thomas Shuler, of Atlanta, Ga.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John F. Nelson and Lula Shipley Nelson; brothers, Joe Nelson and Merl Nelson; sisters, Fairel Clark and Ruby Hatridge, and daughter, Sandra Shuler. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the family home.
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